- rug (n.)
- 1550s, "coarse fabric," of Scandinavian origin, cf. Norwegian dialectal rugga "coarse coverlet," from Old Norse rogg "shaggy tuft," perhaps related to rag and perhaps also rough. Sense evolved to "coverlet, wrap" (1590s), then "mat for the floor" (1808). Meaning "toupee" is theater slang from 1940. Cut a rug "dance" is slang first attested 1942. To sweep (something) under the rug in the figurative sense is from 1954.